Oh, My aching Back

Those dog-gone hips are to blame.

Most people with issues in their neck, shoulders, back, hips, sciatic, legs and feet can put the blame on the alignment of their body.   More specifically, 65% of all people who  have these pains can blame their hips.  When your hips are out of alignment, the rest of your body needs to compensate, or it tries to adjust causing aches and pains. 

According to Lee Albert, an neuromusclar therapist at Kripalu Center, explains people have either an anterior pelvic tilt, rotated pelvis or elevated pelvis.
Here is the solution.  It takes one minute and you will feel relief.  Doesn't that sound fantastic. Then, (another secret) to keep your instant relief you must maintain correct posture during the day.  At your desk, driving, cooking, cleaning, watching tv, knitting, sewing, using your phone, computer and ipads, you must practice and maintain proper balance.    Yes, it takes effort, but very little effort to reduce your pain and feel great.  You can do it!!

Most importantly,  this is the important part...you need to stretch your quads.  When your quads are lengthened (stretched) your hamstrings will come into balance, correcting long and tight hamstrings.  This method of stretching is called Positional Therapy or 'slacking' the muscle.  I am saying when you have a sore back you need to work your front.  If you have hamstrings that are tight, I want you to work your quadriceps. Yes, this is correct. 
Positional therapy strengthens, stretches and slackens your muscles.  Yes, we want all three.  To strengthen, to stretch and to slack. 
I recently went to a training at Kripalu studying with Lee Albert, neuromusclar therapist and yoga instructor.  He explains this in detail.  To learn more, www.leealbert.com
Try these three yoga poses to release stress, tension, and soften your body.  Take your yoga practice to a new level and practice these structural yoga remedies.
I am using these poses in my practice as I develop a sequence for people in pain.  Most people that I work with have some back pain, arthritis, sciatica, shoulder pain or neck tension caused by a variety of reasons.  I hope you benefit from these poses as well.

1.  Thread the needle
2.  Alligator (1/2 frog pose)
3. Supine twist

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Janine is a yoga instructor and Life Coach practicing from her home studio. She invites students to her studio for one on one personal sessions, as well as traveling to the home for small groups. If you are looking for gentle yoga to increase flexibility, strength and decrease stress within, this is the style of yoga that you want for your practice. As a life coach, she leads educational coaching series along with personal one on one life coaching using the Co-Active Coaching techniques. You can reach her at 207-251-9577